Veterinary

Proin For Dogs (Phenylpropanolamine): Side Effects, Dosage, When To Use & More

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Dog being given oral syrup medication by human.
Image credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai, Shutterstock

If you’re a pet parent, you might have been in a situation where you’ve returned home from the veterinary clinic and found yourself staring at a bottle of medication for your dog with no idea what it is or how to give it. After all, a visit to see your dog’s veterinarian might feel a little stressful, especially if they’re poorly, so you might not take in all of the information being told to you by the veterinary team. So, what can you do in that situation?

Firstly, you can always call your veterinary clinic to ask them any questions or voice any concerns about the medication – they’ll be happy to help you feel more confident medicating your dog. But if you recognize your dog’s medication in one of our articles, we might be able to help with some general advice. In this article, we’ll focus on Proin for dogs.

What Is Proin For Dogs?

Proin, Cystolamine, Uricon, and Propalin are all brand names of the drug phenylpropanolamine for dogs. Phenylpropanolamine is a dog incontinence medication that’s available as an oral syrup. Although this medication only has a license for the treatment of dogs, it has been used in cats off-label, based on veterinarian experience of previous use.

What Is Proin Used For In Dogs?

Proin is licensed for the treatment of a particular type of urinary incontinence in female dogs, known as urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence, or SMI. Urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence occurs when the urinary sphincter is weakened and allows urine leakage, and affected dogs may leak urine when sleeping or relaxing. As well as meaning your bed and the couch could be in the line of fire for the odd wet patch, urinary incontinence can lead to sore skin, known as urine scalding, or more urinary tract infections.

Urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence is a condition that affects spayed bitches, and it’s more common in large-breed dogs. This is because hormones influence the urinary sphincter muscles, and the ovariohysterectomy procedure reduces these hormone levels. However, bitches usually don’t develop signs of urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence immediately after spaying but years later. Thankfully, treatment with phenylpropanolamine is effective at improving the symptoms, but it is usually required in the long term.

Proin Side Effects In Dogs

Proin for dogs’ side effects include diarrhea, reduced appetite, restlessness, irregular heart rhythm, and collapse. However, in most otherwise healthy dogs, it is well tolerated and works well.

Which Dogs Should Not Be Treated With Proin?

One of the main risks with Proin use in dogs is overlooking an underlying cause of urinary incontinence that requires a different treatment. Symptoms that appear similar to true urinary incontinence can be caused by urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney and liver disease, diabetes mellitus, ectopic ureters, or even behavioral problems. Therefore, you must get your dog checked by a veterinarian so they can rule out other causes and prescribe Proin if needed.

Proin doesn’t just have a stimulating effect on the urinary sphincter muscles; it can also affect the heart and blood pressure and cause restlessness. Certain medications can’t be given alongside Proin, either. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you whether Proin is a suitable medication for your dog based on their medical history. If your dog has ever reacted to a medication containing phenylpropanolamine, they likely won’t be able to take it, and similarly, if your dog is pregnant or lactating, it’s best to wait until they’re not before starting this treatment.

Proin Dosage For Dogs

While we can’t provide you with a Proin dosage chart or give you a Proin dosage by weight because it must be prescribed by a veterinarian, we can give you some information about how the dosage works and how to give the medication to your dog.

Proin is an oral liquid medication that is licensed to be given up to every eight hours (three times daily). When starting the medication, most veterinarians will recommend a medication trial for a few weeks, with the medication given at this frequency. Once the symptoms improve, your veterinarian may suggest giving a lower dose or giving it less frequently. However, Proin is usually required long term.

How Can You Buy Proin For Dogs?

You won’t be able to buy Proin for dogs or any of the other brands of phenylpropanolamine over the counter or online without a veterinary prescription. It’s also really important that you don’t give medication from a friend, family member, or acquaintance’s dog to your own pet – medication should only be given to the pet it is prescribed for. If you think your dog might need Proin, make an appointment to discuss this with your veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some other questions we receive from our readers about Proin. If you have other questions we haven’t addressed, please let ask us in our comments

Does Proin Cure Incontinence In Dogs?

Proin improves the symptoms of urinary incontinence caused by sphincter mechanism incompetence in spayed female dogs. However, it is usually required to be given long-term, and if stopped, the symptoms will recur.

What Is The Best Medication For Dog Incontinence?

The best medication for dog urinary incontinence will depend on the cause of the symptoms. While phenylpropanolamine will improve symptoms caused by urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence, it won’t improve urinary signs caused by urinary tract infections, ectopic ureters, bladder stones, diabetes, or any other underlying conditions.

Is There An Alternative To Proin In Dogs?

One alternative to Proin is a medication called Incurin. Incurin is also licensed to treat urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence in female dogs but is a tablet rather than a liquid medication.

Follow Your Vet’s Instructions

Proin, also known as phenylpropanolamine, is a medication that treats certain causes of urinary incontinence, primarily in neutered female dogs. If you have any additional questions or concerns about giving your dog Proin, contact your dog’s veterinary team. Learn more about how you can save money buying prescriptions online and whether pet insurance covers medication.

Dr. Hannah Godfrey, MRCVS

After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011, Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS went on to work in a busy practice dealing with animals of all shapes and sizes. She’s since found a love of smaller animals and now works in a small companion animal practice in Wales, where she combines her love of animals with her love of writing.

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